AN: I just can't stop writing this story and your reviews are like my Redbull right now. This is my longest chapter yet but don't get used to it. I hope you like it!
Emily stood in my office wearing a floor-length dress. Her baby bump was burgeoning far past her boobs as she approached her six month mark. Samara was busy pinning the bottom of her dress while I simultaneously made adjustments to Spencer's wedding gown.
"I can't believe she's getting married," Emily said pressing a hand to her stomach.
"It's what she's always wanted," I reminded her. "I think she just needed to see what else is out there before she made a commitment to Toby. I mean, other than Ian and Wren who were just flings, Toby's the only guy she's ever dated."
"I get what you're saying," Samara said, "but they've only been back together for three months. It's so unlike Spence to do something impulsive like this."
"Love makes you crazy," I smiled. "I know that better than anyone."
"Ow," Emily said pressing tightly against her bump.
"You okay?" I asked.
"They're just kicking," Emily replied talking about her twins.
"I'm so happy for you guys," I told them for, like, the hundredth time today. "Have you already thought about names?"
"Kind of," Samara said, "but it's hard. We can barely agree on any of them."
"I know how you feel," I said. "Caleb and I struggled with that with both of our kids."
"How did you decide?" Emily asked. "With Jack we flipped a coin but with Roxi I told him he could name her if he gave me a footrub."
"Seriously?" Samara laughed but I couldn't answer as my phone was ringing. I picked it up off the desk and answered.
"Hello?" I said not bothering to check the caller ID.
"Hanna!" I recognized Spencer's voice.
"Hey," I smiled. "What's up?"
"I'm running late for the fitting," she explained. "I'm stuck in traffic. Can we push it?"
"Yeah," I told her. "I'll be here until six so come by anytime."
"Thank you so much!" she said before hanging up.
"What was that about?" Emily asked when I placed the phone back on my desk.
"Spencer," I told her. "She's running late."
"You're all set," Samara told Emily placing the pin cushion back in her sewing kit.
"Thanks," Emily smiled running into the dressing room to change.
"Thanks for helping with the bridesmaids' dresses," I told Samara as she put her things away.
"It's my pleasure," she replied. "I've been living and breathing the new line and I could totally use a break from it."
"I feel like I'm the opposite," I told her. "Since Spencer told me she's getting married. I've only been working on her dresses."
"What about the one she bought for her first wedding?" Samara asked.
"She thinks it's cursed," I told her.
"Right," Samara laughed. "Good call on that one."
"Ready?" Emily asked popping back out in a pair of jeans and a black racerback.
"Let's go," Samara smiled grabbing her purse.
I said goodbye to both girls and ushered them out the door. Then I got back to fixing the train on Spencer's dress as I waited for her to arrive for her fitting. An hour later she strode in the door with a concerned look on her face and took a seat at my desk.
"You okay?" I asked putting my kit away.
"Don't be mad," she said, "but I have to tell you something."
"What?" I asked worried. "Is everything all right?"
"I should have told you," she said, "but I didn't think it would happen this fast. I didn't want anyone to know until the wedding."
"Spencer, calm down," I told her. "Whatever it is, we'll figure it out."
"Okay," she said standing up. She unbuttoned her trench coat and revealed her fitted t-shirt which was stretched over a bulging belly. "I'm pregnant."
"What?" I gushed. "Spencer that's good news. There's no reason for you to freak out."
"I know," she sighed, "but now you're going to have to redo the dress."
"Spencer, no," I breathed.
"I'm huge," she said sitting down. "I didn't think I would show this much for at least another month, hopefully two, and the wedding is next week."
"Spencer, you are not huge," I explained, "and the dress will be fine. I'll just make a few tiny adjustments."
"What do you mean?" she spat back. "You were never this big. Neither was Emily. She just now started to show."
"First of all," I explained, "Emily is like eight feet tall, she can hide anything and I have a curvy figure. It makes sense that you start showing before all of us. You're stick thin but at least you'll have amazing boobs for the wedding."
"You're right," she laughed admiring the C-cups she was now sporting.
"Now change into the dress so we can get started," I told her handing her the gown.
"Thanks for being so understanding," she replied.
"You're welcome," I smiled, "but answer me this. Are you getting married just because of the baby?"
"Maybe," she said uneasily.
"You're starting to act more like Melissa every day," I laughed.
"Don't say that," she glared at me giving me chills.
"I do," Spencer said standing at the alter across from Toby. I'm pretty sure those two little words evoked a sigh of relief from everyone in the congregation.
"I know pronounce you husband and wife," the minister said before Toby grabbed Spencer and pulled her in for the most romantic kiss I have ever witnessed. Then I heard a sniffle on my right.
"Are you crying?" I asked Aria.
"Don't judge me," she said giving me a look.
"Okay," I smiled picking up Roxi as the guests filtered out of the church to head to the reception.
"We better go," Caleb said grabbing my hand while he held Jack. We had to rush back home to beat the guests because we'd agreed to hold the reception in our backyard as a gift to the newlyweds. I followed Caleb to the car and we sped back home to get the house ready for the party.
"Can you take care of the kids while I deal with the event planner?" I asked Caleb when we got back home.
"Yeah," he said picking up Roxi as I ran outside to make sure everything was perfect.
The yard looked beautiful. I gave the planner some last minute instructions and glanced around to see twenty circular tables with white cloths and porcelain place settings. The bar was set up near the pool and the DJ had a dance floor overlooking the garden. It was more beautiful than my own wedding.
"Hey!" Aria said sneaking up behind me.
"Oh," I jumped, "you scared me."
"Sorry," she smiled, "but there's something I need your help with."
"What?" I asked as she grabbed my hand and led me to my bedroom.
"Ezra's watching the kids with Caleb," she told me handing me a brown paper bag, "so I don't have much time."
"What are you...?" then I opened the bag to find a collection of pregnancy tests inside. "Oh."
"What am I going to do?" she said.
"Wait," I told her. "You think you're pregnant?"
"Maybe," she sighed. "I've been nauseous all day and I just can't wait any longer. Plus I'm two weeks late not to mention how emotional I've been lately."
"Calm down," I told her. "Just breathe."
"What if I'm pregnant?" she asked worried. "Scott's turning ten next month. I'm going to look like this kid's grandma."
"No you're not," I said handing her the stick that I'd recently freed from its packaging. "You're thirty. There are people who haven't even had one kid yet. I mean, look at Spencer. You just started early. You had two kids at your college graduation."
"You're right," she said handing me the stick. "Can you set a timer for five minutes."
"Sure," I said pulling out my phone.
The two of us waited patiently for the timer to go off. I wasn't even the pregnant one but for some reason I was also holding my breath. When it was finally time to check Aria couldn't bring herself to do it so I took a look.
"It's positive," I told her handing the stick over. Then I pulled out another box. "Two out of three?"
She took two more tests. All three were positive. Then she laid them on the counter and took a deep breath.
"I think I'm pregnant," she smiled. Then she held up the paper bag containing the rest of the tests. "What do I do with these."
"Here," I said taking it from her and stashing it under the sink. I turned to her. "I need to go greet the guests. Feel free to hang out here if you need a minute."
"Thanks," she smiled taking a seat as I ran downstairs to get the party going.
"You look hot," Caleb said slipping his hands around my waist as I stood at the bathroom counter sweeping my hair into a ponytail.
"Stop," I said brushing his hand away from my bare waist which was left exposed considering I was only in a sports bra and spandex shorts.
"Come on," he winked. "You can get your workout in another way."
"Caleb," I pleaded. "How about tonight? We can put the kids to bed early."
"I like how you think," he smiled kissing my neck before he backed away.
I ran down to the kitchen to grab two water bottles before heading for the streets for my usual Sunday run. I took off toward Sunset and cut through the residential streets until I'd gone the regular five miles. I stopped at the end to catch my breath before turning around and running back. As I approached the final mile of my run I felt my body shaking and a wave of nausea hit me. I took a moment to stop and catch my breath again before I finished the last leg. Once I'd downed both water bottles I ran back home and collapsed on the couch in the living room. I had been running ten miles every Sunday for five years and I never once felt sick after a workout. I spent a few minutes regaining my composure before I sauntered upstairs to get ready. With Caleb not around, I shed my clothes and hopped into the shower.
I felt the cool water run over my body but something didn't quite feel right. I finished washing my hair and then turned off the faucet wrapping a towel around myself. As I stepped onto the bathmat I felt myself get lightheaded and took a seat at the vanity until it passed. That's when an idea occurred to me but I quickly waived it out of my head. Then I looked at the cabinet under the sink containing Aria's tests. Ignoring the pesky voice inside my head, I dove for the cabinet and pulled out the brown paper bag digging through it to pull out the first stick. After I waited the appropriated amount of time, I took a look. Positive. I went through the rest of the tests until I had six white sticks all lined up on the counter. They were all positive. I took a deep breath before I let the idea sink in and then I threw on some clothes before going downstairs.
"Alright, bye," Caleb said before putting down the phone.
"Who was that?" I asked taking a seat at the kitchen counter.
"Ezra," he replied. "He asked if one of us could pick up their kids from school while they go to Aria's first appointment. I told him you'd be okay with that."
"That's fine," I smiled.
"Is it weird?" he asked. "All of your friends are pregnant at the same time. What are the chances?"
"It kind of makes sense, I guess," I told him. "I mean, we're all the same age."
"It's only a matter of time before I've got you knocked up too," he teased. "Tonight maybe?"
"Caleb," I took a deep breath.
"What?" he asked.
"I think I'm pregnant, too," I said.
"You've got to be kidding," he laughed. Then he noticed the expression on my face. "You're not joking."
"No," I breathed.
"Are you serious?" he asked still unbelieving.
"Yeah," I sighed. "I'm late and I feel sick. My boobs are sore. All the signs are there."
"So we're having another baby," he smiled. "That's great!"
"You think we're ready for this?" I asked.
"Of course!" he laughed. "I always knew that Roxi was more like middle child material.
"You think you're hilarious," I teased him, "but this is serious."
"I know," he smiled. "That's why I want to be there for you and this baby."
"So you're happy?" I asked.
"Yeah," he replied quickly. "Why wouldn't I be?"
"Good," I smiled at him.
AN: I know there's a lot of baby talk in this chapter, but I'm trying to set it up for the sequel.
